Mick McCarthy has warned Sunderland that tonight's trip to Gillingham will be harder than the visit to table topping West Brom at the weekend.

The Black Cats dominated against the in form Baggies, but could not convert one of their numerous chances, eventually having to settle for a 0-0 draw.

And, while McCarthy declared he would have settled for a point before kick-off, he admitted he had been severely disappointed not to get all three by the time of the final whistle.

But the Black Cats boss is now fearful of under-estimating the Gills, who are one of the First Division's less fashionable clubs.

He explained: "They are a superb side at home and they will make it very tough for us. I've played there a few times and I know just how tough it is playing down there.

"They will make it very difficult for us. They like playing the bigger clubs in the division and they normally do well against them as well, especially at home. They will fight for everything and will enjoy making things uncomfortable for us.

"This could well be an even tougher test for the players than they had at West Brom on Saturday when I was pleased with the performance, but disappointed with the result."

Nevertheless, McCarthy has praised the self-belief flowing through his side at the moment, despite the fact they have taken just two points from their last three games.

He said: "It is a measure of the self-belief we have in the side now that we are disappointed not to have won at West Brom. That is the standards they have set themselves.

"Having seen all the teams in the division play I think we look a top six team. It is going to be very tight and how far up that top six we finish I don't know, but we're in that group."

Meanwhile, McCarthy has also leapt to the defence of defender Darren Williams after an incident in which he booted a ball into the crowd at the Hawthorns, leaving a female spectator with concussion.

McCarthy said: "Darren hasn't said too much about it to be honest, but I certainly don't think there was any malice in it, especially when you know the sort of nice lad Darren is."

* MARK Viduka's career at Leeds hangs in the balance after his agent admitted last night even he does not know what the future holds for the player.

Viduka is facing a fine of two weeks' wages, believed to be in the region of &#xA3;130,000, after arriving late for training and then being late for a team meeting before Saturday's 4-1 defeat against league leaders Arsenal - for which he was dropped.

The Australia forward turned up on time at Leeds' Thorp Arch training ground yesterday but is expected to be called into a meeting with manager Peter Reid to discuss his actions.